The Promise of the Messiah

 The Son of Promise Is Born

Book of Genesis Chapters 21 through 23

We know it is the season of the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. We who study "typology" know that in the Book of Genesis the story of Isaac, born to Abraham and Sarah we see a lot of typology relating to Joseph, Mary and Jesus the Messiah.

Isaac is the son promised to Sarah just as Jesus was the son promised to Mary but more important Jesus the Messiah, was promised to all the world.

Isaac was the son of promise to Sarah and Abraham just as Jesus the Christ is the "promised" Messiah!

We may not understand "the fullness of time" as mentioned in the Scriptures but to Sarah, the end of those 9 months of carrying Isaac was the fullness of her time of pregnancy.

It was a great day for her, and the Lord did just as He had promised.

Gen 18:10  And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to "the time of life"; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him.

It had been 25 years since God made His promise to Abraham about a son.

Another instance where we see God always keeps His promises and another promise fulfilled, when God showed up at the tent of Abraham and Sarah the day Isaac was born.

*****Gen 21:1  And the LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken. 

Gen 21:2  For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, "at the set time" of which God had spoken to him. 

In all these things we see the "power" of God!

Abraham was 100 years old and Sarah was 90 years old and they were not like those who lived before the flood.

Sarah had baby Isaac exactly 9 months after the Lord said she would in Genesis 18.

The birth of Isaac was controlled by Jehovah from start to finish.

God keeps His promises, but we will always have to work with God's timetable, and He does not live by our timetable.

If we were as faithful as Jehovah, we would not have many problems in this life!

Our relationship with the Lord depends upon our own faithfulness!

1Co 1:9  God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. 

It is our own faith in the promises of God that make our own life livable.

We learn how to endure the hardships of this life.

We grow stronger in our faith.

We learn to trust what the Lord tells us.

We pray and talk to the Lord more because we grow closer to Him!

Heb 10:23  Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) 

Abraham called his name Isaac.

*****Gen 21:3  And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac. 

We have to know the Lord has a sense of humor when we see that Abraham was told to name his son Isaac.

The meaning of the name "Isaac" is "he laughed".

Both Sarah and Abraham laughed when the Lord confirmed that Sarah indeed would have a son in her old age and that Abraham would be the father of this promised son.

It would have to bring back precious memories every time Sarah called out to her son.

Abraham had considered his body to be dead and that of his wife Sarah, but just as God has said, He does the impossible.

I am glad that as a child of God, I never have to consider myself a dead man! 

I am alive in Christ Jesus, and when my loved ones think I am dead, I will be more alive than I could ever be upon this earth.

Then according to the Word of God Isaac was circumcised on his eighth day.

*****Gen 21:4  And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being eight days old, as God had commanded him. 

Here is a study of the 8th day.

Why the 8th day? In Judaism, circumcision is considered a symbol of the covenant between God and the Jewish people. The act of circumcision is called “the bris”, which literally means “covenant.” One reason the circumcision is performed on the eighth day is so that if the newborn baby will have lived through a complete week which includes a Sabbath. Once the baby has experienced the “holiness” of a Sabbath, he may enter into the covenant of the Jewish people.

Another reason for the 8th day deals with blood clotting. Blood clotting is dependent on 3 factors: platelets, prothrombin, and vitamin K (which is responsible for prothrombin production and is produced by bacteria in the intestinal tract). Holt and McIntosh, in their classic work, Holt Pediatrics, observed that a newborn infant has “peculiar susceptibility to bleeding between the second and fifth days of life. … Hemorrhages at this time, though often inconsequential, are sometimes extensive; they may produce serious damage to internal organs, especially to the brain, and cause death from shock and exsanguination”.

It has been shown that it is on the fifth through the seventh days of the newborn male’s life that vitamin K is present in adequate quantities for blood clotting.

On the eighth day, the amount of prothrombin present is above 100 % of normal (the only day in the male’s life in which this will be normally be the case). Therefore, the 8th day is the perfect day to do the circumcision … when the Vitamin K and prothrombin levels are at their peak.

And once again the Bible reveals a great deal of scientific truth written hundreds, and sometimes thousands of years before being “discovered” by modern scientists.  Lanny Johnson

*****Gen 21:5  And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him. 

Abraham had reached a milestone in his life at 100 years old.

There can be little doubt that God had added some youth to this amazing couple in the Bible.

Another thing Abraham realized was that he was totally dependent upon God for everything.

What did Jesus teach us?

Joh 15:5  I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

Abraham realized this truth just as we must realize this truth!

We will never get to Heaven without the Lord Jesus Christ.

I know many other people reject this statement, but it is still Biblical Truth!

*****Gen 22:1  And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am. 

For Abraham to be that Patriarch that he would become, God decided he would need one more test.

The truth is just as Job said it: the Lord gives, and the Lord takes away.

To be a child of God, we must be willing to always put God first in our lives!

After waiting so long for his own child by his own wife he had loved for so many years, it could be that Abraham came to a standstill in his life and forgot his calling.

We do not know for sure why, but God tested Abraham one more time.

Abraham had sent Hagar and Ishmael away, something he did not really want to do.

Gen 21:11  And the thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight because of his son. 

Ishmael was Abraham's son, but not Sarah's, but Abraham loved Ishmael as much as he did Isaac if not more.

Abraham obeyed the Lord and sent them away.

Abraham knew that he had surely sent Hagar and Ishmael to their death unless God intervened, which He did.

Now, would Abraham give up another son?

*****Gen 22:2  And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.

We can only imagine what was going on in the mind of Abraham.

Just how much faith did he have in the promises of God?

What had God promised Abraham?

Gen 12:1  Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: 

Gen 12:2  And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 

Gen 12:3  And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

There was land:

Deu 30:1  And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon thee, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before thee, and thou shalt call them to mind among all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath driven thee, 

Deu 30:2  And shalt return unto the LORD thy God, and shalt obey his voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thine heart, and with all thy soul; 

Deu 30:3  That then the LORD thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath scattered thee. 

Deu 30:4  If any of thine be driven out unto the outmost parts of heaven, from thence will the LORD thy God gather thee, and from thence will he fetch thee: 

Deu 30:5  And the LORD thy God will bring thee into the land which thy fathers possessed, and thou shalt possess it; and he will do thee good, and multiply thee above thy fathers. 

Deu 30:6  And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live. 

Deu 30:7  And the LORD thy God will put all these curses upon thine enemies, and on them that hate thee, which persecuted thee. 

Deu 30:8  And thou shalt return and obey the voice of the LORD, and do all his commandments which I command thee this day. 

Deu 30:9  And the LORD thy God will make thee plenteous in every work of thine hand, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy land, for good: for the LORD will again rejoice over thee for good, as he rejoiced over thy fathers: 

Deu 30:10  If thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which are written in this book of the law, and if thou turn unto the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul. 

There was the seed:

2Sa 7:13  He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever. 

2Sa 7:14  I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men: 

2Sa 7:15  But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee. 

2Sa 7:16  And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever. 

There was the blessing:

Jer 31:31  Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: 

Jer 31:32  Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: 

Jer 31:33  But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. 

Jer 31:34  And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

To Abraham all these things depended on Isaac but in reality, all these things depended on Jehovah.

If Isaac was sacrificed, then in order for the Lord to continue His promise, then Isaac would have to be raised from the dead.

Is this the faith of Abraham that brought his righteousness. I believe a yes goes here.

*****Gen 22:7  And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? 

As Abraham and Isaac climbed to the place of sacrifice, Isaac realized they had brought no lamb and he questioned his father.

As we study this passage, we will see one of the greatest types in the Bible, at least I think so.

Isaac, a type of Christ.

What was the mindset of Abraham?

Gen 22:5  And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and "come again to you". 

Abraham knew he was to sacrifice his son Isaac, but in order for him to return to these he left behind with his son, then God would have to resurrect him from the dead.

In Abraham's mind this is exactly what God would do, so Abraham had full intention of being obedient to the command of God to offer Isaac as a burnt offering.

I also believe Abraham recognized this place as the place of the skull, but many do not.

Mar 15:22  And they bring him unto the place Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, The place of a skull.

Joh 19:17  And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha:

It is also true that in this same area, the Temple of Solomon would be built on Mount Moriah.

2Ch 3:1  Then Solomon began to build the house of the LORD at Jerusalem in mount Moriah, where the LORD appeared unto David his father, in the place that David had prepared in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite.

What do we know about the death of Jesus?

Joh 19:17  And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha:

Jesus bore His own cross just as Isaac bore the wood to his own sacrifice.

What are some the lessons to the Church?

God wants the Church to know that the sacrifice of any human being, including aborted babies is wrong!

Say what they will, but babies are allowed to be sacrificed (aborted), because some foolish men and women think that there is not enough food to go around and that has never been true.

Eph_6:12  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Why are the lockdowns, the face mask, the plague of Covid-19 itself allowed because of these same ones (wickedness in high places)!

Just today I saw where these same wicked people recommend for us to wear the face mask all of 2021 or another year, even if you take the vaccine. 

In other words the vaccine is no better than the face mask! What a joke! 

They want a great portion of our world to die off, especially the aged, and those who require much medical help and the weak.

We will wrestle against these things until the Lord returns to take us home or we die!

Isaac toted his own wood that was to be used to sacrifice him just a Jesus did!

*****Gen 22:8  And Abraham said, My son, God will provide "himself a lamb" for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together. 

What a statement!

God wants to show a picture forever of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on Mount Calvary. Calvary also means the place of the skull.

Remember Abraham knew in his heart that if he killed his only son Isaac that God would have to raise him from the dead to complete the promises He had made to him!

It took "three days" for Abraham to travel where he could see the place of sacrifice.

Abraham had to show immense faith in the truth of God and His promises.

Heb 11:17  By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 

Heb 11:18  Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: 

Heb 11:19  Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure. 

Then Abraham spoke filled with the Holy Spirit and he said, "God Will Provide Himself A Lamb".

God Himself would be the sacrificial Lamb!

In reality Abraham did not know what God intended to do, he just knew to obey the Word of God.

God did just as He said He would do!

We who know these things will celebrate the Birth of our Savior knowing that He is the Sacrificial Lamb of God and He is God!

Isa 7:14  Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. 

Isa 7:15  Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good.

Immanuel means “God with us”.

*****Gen 22:9  And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood. 

Gen 22:10  And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. 

Gen 22:11  And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I. 

If that Angel had not called out to Abraham, he would have certainly sacrificed his only son. 

I believe that Angel to be the Lord because He always speaks with authority!

We should be able to see that Abraham did solemnly offer up the sacrifice of his son.

Abraham loved God enough to give Him all he had, and the most treasured of his things was his son.

Sounds familiar again.

1Jn_4:9  In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

We should ask ourselves, have we made an absolute surrender to the Living God?

Are we willing to give our life to Him?

Do we truly love God, like we say we do?

Are we totally surrendered to our God?

In all this did we see that Isaac gave himself obediently to his father, "Just as the Lord Jesus Christ did".

Php 2:8  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Heb 5:8  Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; 

Heb 5:9  And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; 

Psa 40:6  Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required. 

Psa 40:7  Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, 

Psa 40:8  I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart. 

Joh 10:18  No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father. 

We should understand that God did not need for Isaac to be sacrificed.

God needed the heart of Abraham!

Here again we see Abraham as the example of the "Born Again" child of God.

We need to surrender to the will of God.

We also see God will never accept a human sacrifice!

God wants a living sacrifice!

Rom 12:1  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies "a living sacrifice", holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 

Rom 12:2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 

Isaac became a living sacrifice! His death would have been meaningless!

God would have to provide Himself as the only acceptable sacrifice!

Php 2:5  Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 

Php 2:6  Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 

Php 2:7  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 

Php 2:8  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 

Php 2:9  Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 

Php 2:10  That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 

Php 2:11  And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 

There would be a resurrection, but it would not be Isaac!

God provided a substitute for Isaac!

*****Gen 22:12  And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me. 

Gen 22:13  And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son. 

Gen 22:14  And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen. 

We should understand that God, the true God, the Living God, will never ask for a human sacrifice!

Those who condemn this passage in the Scriptures are fools and miss the truth of it!

It is false religion that demands human sacrifice!

It is false religion that is the factor behind abortion and the sacrifice of innocent babies, even before they are born. 

This is sold as the freedom of women to choose which is another joke on humanity!

The false gods of Moloch and Chemosh, are still around today.

It is the triumph of Abraham's faith that is the theme of this passage.

It is the example of Messiah that is the theme of this passage.

We should ask ourselves, does God approve us as He did Abraham?

We should ask ourselves, have we accepted the Messiah as our substitute?

We must realize, God has no pleasure in our suffering or in our death!

What did Peter teach us?

1Pe 2:3  If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. 

1Pe 2:4  To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, 

1Pe 2:5  Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 

1Pe 2:6  Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. 

Jehovah-jireh means, “God will provide”.

God, the true God has provided everything we need to restore our relationship with Him.

Just as with Abraham, our relationship is bound up with our faith in the Word of God!

God will provide! Today we call it "Grace"!

Thank you for your mercy my Heavenly Father.

Amen

Christ Was Rejected

The Certainty Of Christ's Rejection

Book of Luke 20


The meaning of rejection is the act of throwing away.

Rejection is forsaking.

Rejection is casting away something that could prove to be really important.

Again we will see that Jesus will teach with a parable.

This parable was directed at Israel but let us be thankful that God has planted His vineyard among us all!

We should all ask ourselves if we are rendering the fruit to the Lord which He expects from us.

The least He expects is the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

Eph 5:9  (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
Eph 5:10  Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.

We must certainly make sure we do not resemble these husbandmen in this parable.

The Lord must not only be our foundation in this life, He must also the our ultimate goal.

Jesus must be not only the author of our faith but He must also be the finisher of our faith.

Heb 12:2  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Heb 12:3  For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

Jesus who had never sinned, came to save sinners who could not be saved in any other way!

Just as God founded our world, God also founded the nation of Israel.

Just God founded Israel, God founded the Church.

In this parable we should consider those servants as God's messengers who were sent to secure the fruit of God which is the Lord Jesus Christ.

God is the founder of this vineyard.

*****Luk 20:9  Then began he to speak to the people this parable; A certain man planted a vineyard, and let it forth to husbandmen, and went into a far country for a long time.

God has leased the land Israel sits on to Israel, not any other nation nor any other people.

God has leased the remainder of the world to all other mankind none of these things happened by chance.

Act 17:28  For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

We are all sheep in God's pasture.

Psa 100:3  Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

It should be very clear that God has given man the highest privileges in this world, not plants and not animals, and not what we can see.

It is man that has the privilege of life here and then an opportunity for Heavenly blessings.

It is man that also has the privilege for the care of this world.

God has placed life and this earth into the care of man's hands!

It is a privilege to a part of God's creation but we need to understand that privileges also have obligations.

Gen 1:27  So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
Gen 1:28  And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

As we go through this parable we need to remember all these things.

*****Luk 20:10  And at the season he sent a servant to the husbandmen, that they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard: but the husbandmen beat him, and sent him away empty.
Luk 20:11  And again he sent another servant: and they beat him also, and entreated him shamefully, and sent him away empty.
Luk 20:12  And again he sent a third: and they wounded him also, and cast him out.

The season spoken of in this passage would be the season of harvesting.

This is the season when the fruit would be offered to the Lord.

There is a day of accounting for all of us, so God sent His servants to collect.

God expects us all to bear fruit!

We should understand that the great truths from the Old Testament were written by the prophets and not the priests even though some of them were also priests.

The true prophet is always great because the truth makes men great not falsehood and not those who twist the truth into something evil.

We see that God's servants were rejected and sent away. God's servants were mistreated and were refused payment.

It is a fact that this world and most all those in it are very possessive of material things.

We see that these men deliberately rebelled against God.

Man wants to forget about God the Creator and rule the vineyard themselves.

Man wants to forget God's rules and live by his own rules!

We would be foolish if did not see how accurate this parable is when compared to the world we live in today.

Remember a parable is an earthly picture of a Heavenly truth.

In fact man wants his way so much that he is willing to slander, ridicule, persecute and even slaughter the true servants of God.

Notice the patience of God.

2Pe 3:9  The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

God did not immediately strike out in anger though it was His right to do so.

We should also see that the servants of God will suffer while doing the work God has assigned them to do.

So God continued to send servants giving man chance after chance.

In this picture we know that Israel is a "type" of the world we live in today.

When Israel (world) would not honor God's servant God sent His own Son.

*****Luk 20:13  Then said the lord of the vineyard, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son: it may be they will reverence him when they see him.
Luk 20:14  But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, This is the heir: come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.
Luk 20:15  So they cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What therefore shall the lord of the vineyard do unto them?

As Christians we certainly possess a portion of God's Kingdom.

What God has done for Israel was not because Israel was better than any other nation.

AND, What God has done for each Christian is not because we are better than anyone else.

God was making a special appeal to the tenants of this vineyard (Israel).

God sent His own Son to collect the fruit.

**When Jesus first came He claimed to be the Son of God.

Jesus was different from the servants that had come before Him.

**When the tenants of God's vineyard saw Jesus they already had plenty of evidence that what He said was true.

In fact most of Israel agreed that Jesus was the promised Messiah.

As Christians the key to our "faith" is to believe that Jesus Christ is who he says He is!

The unbelief of these people was deliberate!

They just refused to believe!

Their unbelief was outright rejection.

**They plotted His death.

It takes a foolish people to think they can stop the Almighty God.

BUT, We know that most of those in our world think this same way today.

**Not only did they plot to kill the Son they plotted to take God's vineyard by force.

Notice man is always seeking worldly possessions instead of the God who creates all possessions.

Remember the sin of covetousness is the sin of wanting what some one else possesses.

Notice they intentionally rejected and denied and they will lie and cheat and even steal or kill to get what they want.

There was no limit to their evilness!

**And they murdered the Son.

Though the Lord Jesus Christ came to die on the cross it was still the worst crime in human history to put Him there.

Rom 5:8  But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Eph 2:4  But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Eph 2:5  Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

There is little doubt about the "Grace" of God BUT we should understand that we can push God to far.

*****Luk 20:16  He shall come and destroy these husbandmen, and shall give the vineyard to others. And when they heard it, they said, God forbid.

Just as everything God does is justified, then His "judgement" is also justified.

It amazes me that people who say they know God and have felt the love of God, refuse to believe our loving God will when necessary show His wrath.

We can certainly abuse the mercy of God!

It only takes a moment of God's wrath to cause major devastation!

In fact the greatest conflicts on this earth have been between the truth of God and the personal desires of men and it will remain that way until Christ returns a second time, when the wrath of God will be exposed to this world.

What is the truth?

If the power that we have is not used to serve God, then He will take it away from us and it will be given to those who will use it the way God designed it to be used.

The stupidity of wickedness is that those who rob God are robbing themselves!

These men who had planned to steal the things of God, then lost everything including their own lives.

We must also notice that the greatest hindrance to God's Kingdom will come from those who are in the highest administrations in the affairs of men.

We know this is happening in America today, where the Church is hindered more by our own government than from any other source!

Our own Constitution was written to try to keep this from happening but these people are above the law.

BUT, We should also understand the wrath of God is still a sign of God's holiness.

Psa 79:6  Pour out thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known thee, and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon thy name.

And the element of love and compassion of God is always closely connected with God's anger!

And God's anger can be extremely destructive!

Jer 10:24  O LORD, correct me, but with judgment; not in thine anger, lest thou bring me to nothing.

We should also notice that when God takes His vineyard from these evil men, it will still be cultivated and it will still be expected to bear fruit.

God will simply raise up a different people to take care of it!

**We see that when these Jews heard this statement from Jesus that they knew exactly what Jesus meant.

They could not believe any such thing could happen to them because they had justified themselves above all other Jews.

They felt that God would not allow such a thing to happen but God was standing before them in the flesh this very day.

They decided if they destroyed Jesus these things would go away by doing just what the parable of Jesus had just said.

They said "God Forbid" not accepting the truth.

What is the truth of God?

Psa 2:8  Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.
Psa 2:9  Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.
Psa 2:10  Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.
Psa 2:11  Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling

And how did Jesus respond?

*****Luk 20:17  And he beheld them, and said, What is this then that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner?
Luk 20:18  Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

To those that do not believe in a coming "Judgement" what do they do with such a Scripture as this?

Jesus stared them right in their face when He said these words. To behold is to fix your eyes upon something or someone.

Kind of like that look we have all gotten from our mothers just before she reached for that hickory switch.

The truth is our world does not want to hear the truth, because the leaders of this world think they can defy the Living God and make their own truth.

How foolish have we become!

The prophet Daniel also wrote of this coming destruction.

Dan 2:45  Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.

We are foolish to ignore the coming wrath of God when all the governments of this world will be destroyed and King Jesus will then sit on His throne on this earth for 1000 years.

Jesus Christ is the Head and the Chief Cornerstone of His creation.

Jesus Christ is the Foundation Stone of the Church.

And He is certainly the The Foundation Stone on which we are all to build our lives.

Eph 2:20  And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
Eph 2:21  In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
Eph 2:22  In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

If we cannot become a habitation for God we cannot be saved.

This same Foundation for building eternal life also has destructive power!

The destructive power of a stone over flesh and blood is well known.

So most all the religious leaders of the Jews turned on Christ Jesus that very day and joined forces.

*****Luk 20:19  And the chief priests and the scribes the same hour sought to lay hands on him; and they feared the people: for they perceived that he had spoken this parable against them.

**We should keep in mind that just because two or more groups of people who are really true enemies, then join forces in a common cause does not make them right, it just makes them more wrong!

We see today in our own political arena this same thing is happening.

It is just a ploy used in politics to keep power in the wrong hands.

**We also see that religionists will go to any lengths to maintain control of the church.

We also see this going on today!

Solomon wrote that there is nothing new under the Sun and these are some of the things he was writing about.

**Another thing we see is that the Lord Jesus Christ had a perfect knowledge of these people and the intentions of His enemies.

We see that the Lord has no fear of any of His enemies and will always give them plain answers that they can understand.

The Jewish religious system had become it's own political institution.

Just as political parties of today gang up to destroy politicians, most of the priesthood, that had begun with Moses, was now joining forces to destroy Jesus Christ, the Living Breathing Son of God.

These were the people who were to be God's testimony of righteousness but had instead become selfish, power hungry pawns of Rome.

These were men who realized that people were flocking to Jesus by droves and if He so chose to allow them to make Him their King, Rome would come in and put down any revolt and they would lose their positions they had bartered with Rome to keep.

They would not only lose their position and authority but they would lose their livelihood.

They were becoming rich while their nation was being robbed by Rome.

They began to conspire some way to cause Jesus to trap Himself.

*****Luk 20:20  And they watched him, and sent forth spies, which should feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of his words, that so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor.
Luk 20:21  And they asked him, saying, Master, we know that thou sayest and teachest rightly, neither acceptest thou the person of any, but teachest the way of God truly:

They chose to stop Jesus by posing trick questions to try to get Jesus to take some position against the people.

They thought they could then arrest Him and destroy Him and their problems would be solved.

Notice they first sent spies to watch Jesus' every move but sadly they were not interested in the way of salvation.

They were always seeking ways to accuse Him.

If they could cause Jesus to make an error in His doctrine He would look bad before the people.

If they could get Jesus to say anything against Rome then He could be arrested for treason.

The truth is, religion will always become political in the wrong hands!

As Christians we must always be aware of these things and guard against such things as power and position and selfish loyalty.

Joh 5:44  How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?

Jesus said our faith is useless when we trust more in the things of this world and we do that when we trust some man more than we trust God.

Jesus also had these words:

Mat 20:25  But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.
Mat 20:26  But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
Mat 20:27  And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:

Again Christians must realize that we have only one Master, King Jesus.

We must remember that these men with different concepts had joined forces. They had been enemies but had linked together to destroy the Lord.

**Some of these religious leaders believed that religion should be supreme. They believed strongly in the spiritual world and that all obedience and loyalty belonged to God and to God alone.

Therefore they were totally against paying the Roman taxes, considering that paying taxes infringe on God's right to all possessions.

They insisted on these things for the people but they themselves had no problem accepting the power and prestige of Rome.

**The other side of this group was locked in on "Humanism". They believed that the state was supreme.

They did not hold to the supernatural or a Supreme Being who was involved in the affairs of mankind.

If there were religion then it too was to be subject to government control.

We are foolish if we do not see these same two battles going on in our own political structure today!

To these people God was to be ignored, unless they could use Him to be some benefit or blame in times of tragedy.

Even insurance companies have a clause which reads "an act of God" when it comes to a tragedy.

What does God say?

Isa 5:14  Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it.
Isa 5:15  And the mean man shall be brought down, and the mighty man shall be humbled, and the eyes of the lofty shall be humbled:
Isa 5:16  But the LORD of hosts shall be exalted in judgment, and God that is holy shall be sanctified in righteousness.

The truth is when we feel like there is someway to fool God then we have become the fools ourselves!

So they asked crafty questions to try to entangle the Lord.

We should realize cowards are like cats who like to take their prey by suddenly pouncing upon it. They will rarely come face to face with their prey trusting in their own stealth to surprise their enemy.

*****Luk 20:22  Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Caesar, or no?
Luk 20:23  But he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them, Why tempt ye me?
Luk 20:24  Shew me a penny. Whose image and superscription hath it? They answered and said, Caesar's.
Luk 20:25  And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar's, and unto God the things which be God's.

Once we are saved God puts His stamp of approval upon our heart by the Holy Spirit and becomes our owner.

All that is created by God belongs to God!

The images stamped on all coins belong to the governments that forged them.

At least in America the phrase "in God we trust" is also imprinted still on our coins but for how much longer no one knows.

When Jesus pointed to that image He did not deny that the image was Caesar's.

Coins, roads, buildings, sewage, transportation and many other things belong to the state including the military and law enforcement.

AND We already know that we are citizens of this world as long as we are in this world.

We are subject to the powers of this world and we owe some allegiance to the state.

Tit 3:1  Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,

The Bible says it is God who puts leaders in place and for His own reasons!

Rom 13:1  Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
Rom 13:2  Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
Rom 13:3  For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:

Jesus said render to the government those things that belong to the government.

This is another reason we must keep our governments as small as possible but yet with enough resources to protect us.

We are to honor the laws of the land but only in regard to the laws of God!

Ecc 8:2  I counsel thee to keep the king's commandment, and that in regard of the oath of God.

God must also have His due as well as the king his!

When we realize that governments may create coins and some other things but it is God that created man and man is always subject to God.

We owe our allegiance to God and not to any man!

In fact we owe God our lives. Our lives were created so that we can exist with God, for His pleasure.

God also created this world and we should do our best to take care of it.

Man is also a spirit and therefore able to be "Born Again" and live being able to deny our selves and pick up our cross daily and follow the Lord.

1Pe 1:22  Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:
1Pe 1:23  Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

Man is also a body and we owe our bodies to the Lord.

Rom 12:1  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Rom 12:2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

It is in this fashion that we can make a difference in this world we live in.

So what happened?

*****Luk 20:26  And they could not take hold of his words before the people: and they marvelled at his answer, and held their peace.

They were silenced!

They were unable to discredit the Lord.

They were amazed at His answers.

As long as we are upon this earth we hold a dual citizenship as described by the Lord Jesus Himself.

We are to render to the government what is owed them and we are to render to God what is owed Him.

Most people murmur and fuss about what is owed to the government but then relent but they refuse to give God what belongs to God and most of them never relent to God.

These that were amazed at the answers of Jesus this day, would still reject Him though they knew He spoke the truth.

In order for the kingdoms of this world to survive, they must become the kingdoms of the Lord Jesus Christ!

Man can only survive by having only one Master!

Man is trinity in himself and each part has it's own purpose in the methods of God!

To disagree with these things is to reject the Lord Jesus Christ and bring eternal death!

Our secular life and our Christian life are are to be equal partners while we are on this earth so that we can be the most useful servant that God has made and fulfill the purpose for which we are called.

Questions?

Let's Pray!

The Teaching Of Jesus Christ

The Certainty Of Christ's Parables

Book of Luke 12


We already know that the Lord Jesus used many parables in His teaching.

A parable can be best described as a story of something in our earthly life or in nature, that we can compare to the truth of God's Word, a Heavenly truth.

It is a fact that both the Created world of God and all the things in Heaven develop according to the same laws.

For instance in the spring we see the resurrection of this natural world from the dead of Winter to the new life of Spring which should remind us that to be resurrected is to be raised from death to eternal life.

Nature is a witness of the Spiritual world to come.

It could be said that a parable is the clearest illustration of God's truth!

We can be certain that the parables that Jesus taught will clearly show us the meaning of God's Word.

Everything that Jesus taught was in perfect harmony with the Message of His Father.

We should remember that a parable will never contradict the truth of the Scriptures, but will only point to the truth of God!

*****Luk 12:13  And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me.

Here we see one of the followers of Christ asked that He be the judge between he and his brother. This man was in a dispute with his own brother over the inheritance of his fathers estate.

We already know that by the laws of Moses the elder brother would get two thirds of the estate compared to his younger brother's one third.

We do not know if this is the problem with this man or not.

This man felt that he deserved an equal share of all the things his father had possessed.

The truth is, we never see where Jesus will ever interfere in secular matters!

At this time it was not His purpose because He came to seek and to save those who are lost!

At this time is was a common practice in the life of the Jews for the Rabbi to settle local legal disputes.

What do we know?

**This man had been listening to the Preaching message of Jesus sermons.

**This man was seeking material wealth of this world.

BUT, Jesus will never deal in matters of selfishness!

*****Luk 12:14  And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?

Jesus Christ refused this man very sternly.

This gives us an idea how the Lord would respond to any request for the material things of this world for our own use.

This man exposed a serious flaw in the spiritual life he should have been seeking.

In verses 1-12 Jesus was teaching all those who would listen to beware of the teaching of the Pharisees.

Most of the Pharisees were hypocrites who taught the Laws of Moses but they themselves lived outside those Laws.

This is something we see in our own government today. Men and women who make the laws refuse to abide by those laws.

The truth is, the disciples of the Lord are to never live in this manner and are always to be aware of hypocrisy.

We are never to get caught up in this way of thinking!

Luk 12:2  For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.

This was a man who had heard the message of Jesus but he was to preoccupied in his own worldliness to listen to what Jesus had really said.

The Bible says:

Jas 4:8  Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

It is obvious that this man had his mind on the things of this earth and not on Heavenly things!

There many people who sit before God's preachers but they still refuse to hear the message he has preached.

The Bible says:

Mat 11:15  He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

This man had a strong desire for the things of this world and that is a sign of cold-hearted worldliness!

AND, Covetousness will lead to all manner of sin!

*****Luk 12:15  And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

Each of the Ten Commandments is centered on covetousness!

The Tenth Commandment says "Thou shalt not covet".

To covet is to have an inordinate desire to possess what belongs to someone else!

In fact as the Bible describes covetousness, it means an ungoverned and selfish desire that threatens the basic rights of others.

To covet can also mean self exertion and the Tenth Commandment forbids such a thing.

This is exactly what is being pushed on the American public by the gay movement, the students that want everything to be free, those who want to take away the rights of Christians, and those who think differently from the Democratic Party and the secular society of today.

Free speech to these people means that you can say what you want to say as long as you do not disagree with what they have to say!

They should remember the Word of God:

Eph 5:5  For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
Eph 5:6  Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.

To be covetous is to not be rich toward God!

To be covetous is to deny faith and scorn the values of God!

Just as Jesus says "life does not consists of the things of this world that we have in our possession".

Jesus says to "take heed", "to beware".

It was not being wronged by his brother that drove this man, it was simply greed!

This was the sin of this man and the great sin of this world we live in!

This is the sin of covetousness!

This is the sin of Socialism!

This is the sin of Communism!

These people become aggressively self-centered and this is what we see in America today!

So Jesus teaches with a parable.

*****Luk 12:16  And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
Luk 12:17  And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
Luk 12:18  And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.
Luk 12:19  And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
Luk 12:20  But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?

In this parable we have a man who is already a rich land owner.

The crops that were planted on his lands brought forth greater than average crops, so much so he did not have room to store the abundance.

He uses the word "I" six times and the word "my" five times in these passages, because we see that he could only think of himself.

The one thing we can be sure of, is that if we have anything it is something that God has provided to us for a reason.

We are all prone to take credit for the things that we have acquired when the truth is, success comes only from God!

The sin of covetousness is a craving and a desire for more.

Covetousness is the sin that is hardest to overcome!

Covetousness causes greediness.

Covetousness causes dissatisfaction with what is enough.

Covetousness causes our cravings to influence our fleshy behavior!

It is not so "much a want to have" as a "got to have" and a will to try to obtain no matter the cost.

Covetousness puts material things in the place of God!

When this man had a great opportunity to help others in need, he chose only to store it in newly built barns.

This man had become self-centered that only his perceived needs were real ti him.

And what did God say to him? "You are a fool".

God says those that continuously lay up treasure for themselves and are not rich toward the ways of God are fools.

We already know that Jesus warned us for calling anyone a fool using the Greek word "moros" which means stupid.

But here the Holy Spirit uses a much stronger word meaning "insane".

Covetousness is a very serious sin in the eyes of God and goes all the way back to the very first commandment.

Notice, God knew the thoughts of this man.

Notice, God knew this man would die that very night.

The soul of this man was going to cease because the soul returns to the God who gave it.

The soul simply does not cease existing when the flesh dies!

The soul returns to the spiritual world.

2Pe 2:17  These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.

This man will never know who ended up with his riches after his death.

Psa 39:6  Surely every man walketh in a vain shew: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.

Pro 5:21  For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings.
Pro 5:22  His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins.
Pro 5:23  He shall die without instruction; and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.

What did Jesus say before He began this parable?

Luk 12:15  And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

True life is not about the material things of this world we live in!

True life is about what happens after the death of this flesh we live in. It is the soul that has eternal life!

*****Luk 12:21  So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

Psa 49:6  They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;
Psa 49:7  None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him:
Psa 49:8  (For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:)
Psa 49:9  That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption.
Psa 49:10  For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others.

Wealth is not a permanent possession!

Someone else will always get your wealth that you leave behind and many times not those you would prefer to have it.

The ownership of material things is really never ours to begin with, all things belong to God.

1) The riches of God are true life:

Psa 30:5  For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

2) The riches of God come from a life of faith:

Jas 2:5  Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?

3) The riches of God in this life are from our good works after our salvation.

1Ti 6:18  That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;
1Ti 6:19  Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

4) The riches of God come from the wisdom of God:

Pro 8:11  For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.

Those that lay up their own treasures in this world are not rich in the things of God that last forever!

*****Luk 12:22  And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.

Discipleship training has lost it's importance in the modern day church.

We should be clear, Jesus is teaching His disciples here. If you are a disciple of Jesus Christ then you need some training for the tasks that He has for us all!

This message is not for the world, those that reject Jesus Christ!

Taking thought, is worrying.

Taking thought, is being overly concerned.

God says for us to not worry about the necessities of life!

King David said: Psa 37:25  I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.

Jesus said "I have come that you might have life".

In other words, life is not about this life we live in the flesh that only last such a short time!

*****Luk 12:23  The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.

The biggest problem this world has today is that it does not believe in an ultimate provider.

In reality there are no such things as the laws of nature!

God did not create a world in which only the strong survive!

Psa 145:15  The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season.
Psa 145:16  Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing.

Sure there are those that are starving in this world but if looked you would see that most people starve because some man or some men have interfered with the food process!

The truth is, that it is only those who are strong in Christ that will survive.

The life that Christ Jesus supplies is eternal!

Joh 11:25  Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
Joh 11:26  And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

Our faith is the key to true life, if that faith is in the Lord Jesus Christ!

Who would choose a meal over such a life?

Who would choose a new wardrobe over such a life?

These things are just covetousness which leads to most all sin!

The greatest sin besides, rejecting the Lord Jesus, is the desire of mankind for bigger and better things of this world.

Life and our bodies mean much more that the food we eat and the clothes we wear, or the place we live, or the things we think we own!

We already know that a healthy lifestyle will extend our life in this world and a life in Christ will extend that life to a life eternal in the actual presence of God.

Jesus did not say we are not to think or to plan for the necessities of life, Jesus said we are not to worry about these things.

Life takes some thought and some planning but we are never to covet to the point of worrying!

We should just truly consider the ways of God!

*****Luk 12:24  Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?

Jesus says just consider all the birds, they are fed by God Himself.

As far as I know, the only birds who die of starvation are those who have been captured by some person and kept as pets.

Birds do not sow or reap their food, they just go to the location where food is available.

Many animals store up food for the times when it is not available but not the birds, God provides for them day by day.

Birds are willing to go to wherever their needs are met!

God says that those who have accepted His Son Jesus as their personal Savior are of much more value than the birds.

Faith that God will provide our needs comes from the faith that we have a Savior and a Redeemer.

1Pe 1:3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1Pe 1:4  To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 1Pe 1:5  Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Jesus is teaching all His disciples, which includes all who have faith in Him, not to worry or be anxious in this world over food and clothing.

BUT, we should also remember that God does not put up with laziness, or a lack of initiative, and effort on our part.

God made plans ahead of time for our salvation.

Jesus planned ahead for His own funeral.

Joh 12:6  This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.
Joh 12:7  Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this.

Jesus preached and taught for us all to be industrious believers.

Luk 16:8  And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.

Jesus said we are to be more industrious than this unjust steward.

The Bible is very clear about us being faithful workers and even working to have extra that we can give to those that do not have.

Eph 4:28  Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

Our faith means that we are trusting in God to meet all our needs because God says He will never forsake us.

God does not ever say that we will not suffer in this life in fact He says we will!

It is that suffering that will increase our faith!

God truly cares for those who love Him!

1Pe 5:6  Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
1Pe 5:7  Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Worrying about these things of God is then senseless!

*****Luk 12:25  And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?

The Greek word used for stature in this verse is "helikia".

Helikia can mean age as well as size.

So this verse could read either "who can add one cubit which is about 18 inches to his stature" or it could read "who could add one minute to his life span".

The answer to both is that none of us can do either of these things.

No two of us are alike but we are all sinners!

This world is corrupt and imperfect just as we all are.

Our only hope is in the Almighty God through the Lord Jesus Christ who makes these promises to us.

2Pe 1:2  Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
2Pe 1:3  According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
2Pe 1:4  Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

*****Luk 12:26  If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?

It is to our benefit to think that there are many things that we simply cannot do!

There are some simple things that man simply cannot do.

It would seem reasonable that we are in control of our own destiny but the truth is we are not in control at all!

God does not cause accidents yet they still happen and our lives our over before we know it.

The big thing today is climate change and with all the power of man and all the knowledge of the world's greatest minds, it is God who controls these things and the climate has always changed.

If we would only look at a Supreme Being and not the foolishness of Evolution we would not get so caught up in these things!

When we are unable to do some of the simplest of things with human power, how could we ever believe we could do these things that foolish men say is possible.

God has promised that no matter what we see or think, God will work out all things for the good to those that truly trust Him!

Rom 8:28  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

We know God's plan and we may not understand His methods, but we need to just place these things in His hands because He certainly knows what is best for us.

1Co 7:17  But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches.

We are challenged to trust God and leave all our worries to Him, or to be so anxious about this life that it robs us of our peace and joy.

We are to consider what God has already done.

*****Luk 12:27  Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
Luk 12:28  If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?

When we see the beautiful lilies, do they not always appear contented and happy.

The lilies live on the property of man.

The same air that keeps us alive does not help the growth of the lily, because the lily requires our wasted air.

When we and also the animals breath in all the air we want, it is that air that is exhausted, though poison to us, that is life to the lily.

A lily is not concerned with popularity or of wearing the proper clothing.

A lily is not concerned with style and fashion.

A lily is not concerned with acceptability.

Flowers are grateful for the leftovers of this world and our ingratefulness shows when we simply cannot be happy with what God has provided for us.

As rich as King Solomon was, he could not purchase clothing that could come close to the beauty of the lilies!

God simply says, to get all the good out of the things He has provided before we wish for better things!

A flower has no wings and no feet and must stay exactly where it is planted.

They do not do anything that cannot be done at home.

When the Lord Jesus was asked to do wrong He said "I and my Father are one".

Jesus was saying that this is not what happens in My Father's House!

There are still people who talk to their flowers but flowers never talk back.

Flowers allow their silent beauty do all their talking for them!

Flowers teach us to do good without being asked to do so!

It is a fact that without the systems God has put in place we would not have flowers!

We would not have trees!

We would not have grass!

We not not have the wheat and the corn that feeds us!

God is the Creator of life, not only mankind, and all the animals but life also can be seen in all the plants that grow and many of those plants are grown for our on benefit.

We get food and shelter and many other resources from plants who survive off our waste and even if they had mouths they would never complain!

SO, What this world is suffering the most from, "is a lack of faith" and that faith in God!

*****Luk 12:29  And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.
Luk 12:30  For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.

When we doubt that God cares enough for us to provide our basic needs, then we become anxious and worry to a point that we become insecure in many other things.

Jas 1:5  If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
Jas 1:6  But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
Jas 1:7  For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
Jas 1:8  A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

Worldliness is being wrapped up in the things of this world and doubting God's care!

These things will consume us if they are allowed to fester!

When life becomes food, drink and possessions, we have forgotten that life is eternal and we have forgotten life is in the soul which never dies.

As the children of God we are to different from those of this world!

God commands us to seek the Kingdom of God and all these other things will be provided.

We must understand that God knows we have personal needs!

If we cannot trust in God's ability to provide our basic needs, how then can we be sure of our own salvation.

A God that cannot provide for His people is not much of a God!

We serve a God that not only provides our needs, but He gets great pleasure in doing so!

*****Luk 12:32  Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

God has great pleasure in giving us treasures that do not age, that do not corrupt, and no one can steal them away from us!

The teaching of the Lord is this: "Once our needs have been met, we do not need more".

We will only waste it or we will store it to deny others from having.

We live in a world that is full of needs and should be willing to help others with any excess that we have.

Not to gain a good reputation but for the purpose of seeking the Kingdom of God!

What advice does God give us?

*****Luk 12:33  Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.
Luk 12:34  For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

"Gifts" of money and good deeds can never grow old.

The treasures in Heaven are built upon the fruit of the Holy Spirit and Souls led to the Lord.

Gal 5:22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Gal 5:23  Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Eph 5:9  (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
Eph 5:10  Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.

These things never age, never fail, cannot corrupt, and cannot be stolen, as all things of this earth do.

The real treasures are in Heaven!

Our hearts should be centered these things of Heaven.

If we believe our treasure is in this world then our hearts are in this world.

As this world is corrupt, then our hearts are corrupt!

1Jn 2:15  Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
1Jn 2:16  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
1Jn 2:17  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
We can be certain that the parables of the Lord Jesus Christ teach us Heavenly Truths!

Questions?

Let's Pray!

Jesus Christ's New And Living Way

The Certainty Of Christ's New Living Way

Book of Luke 6:20-49


What is materialism? Materialism is believing the things of this world have great value.

Jesus taught just the opposite of this false belief.

Jesus warns those with such beliefs that severe judgment is coming to them!

Christians sometime have the wrong idea about the promises of Jesus.

Happiness is sought by most all people in this world but there is no moral meaning in happiness.

We certainly are to be happy Christians but our happiness comes from our "blessedness"!

It is blessedness alone that can satisfy the mind and the heart!

These Scriptures today are called the "Beatitudes".

David wrote of the blessed man in the Book of the Psalms:

Psa 32:1  A Psalm of David, Maschil. Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
Psa 32:2  Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.

Blessedness begins with the forgiveness of sins and then a New Spirit!

*****Luk 6:20  And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.
Luk 6:21  Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh.
Luk 6:22  Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.

We will be able to see the "Spirit of the Gospel" in these Scriptures.

When we see this word "poor", we should not assume that Jesus is referring to those in poverty or who are financially poor.

Hunger, and those living in the slums are not pleasing to God!

The riches and the bountifulness of this world are under the control of evil men who are led by Satan.

It's ridiculous to use corn to put in gasoline when much of the world is starving for food.

This world has the ability to feed all it's people, yet even in America there are people on starvation!

SO, Jesus was not talking about "material poverty".

Matthew writes this way:

Mat 5:3  Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

It is all those "poor in spiritual needs" that concern the Lord Jesus!

***To be poor in spirit is to be helpless in the sight of God!

Only God can fill this void and He chose to do this through the Lord Jesus Christ!

Rom 8:11  But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you

***To be poor in spirit is a lack in understanding that true blessings and the blessings of eternal life, come only from a personal relationship with God!

Eph 1:3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

***To be poor in spirit is to be humble in the sight of God.

Jas 4:10  Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

When we acknowledge that we are poor in spirit, we will turn away from the things of this world.

When we acknowledge that we are poor in spirit, we will place our attention on God and His kingdom.

Joh 10:10  The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

The opposite of being "poor in spirit" is to be "full of Jesus".

2Co 5:20  Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
2Co 5:21  For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

We have no righteousness in our selves without the righteousness of Christ Jesus!

Those who know their spiritual needs will have the kingdom of God!

The same goes for those that hunger.

It is not  those with physical hunger but those with spiritual hunger who will be filled!

Being hungry is not a blessing, but a starving spirit will crave righteousness!

Righteousness means not only "to do right" but also "to be right"!

Today there are many in our world who say they have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior but there is no change in the way they live.

This is false security!

If we are filled with the righteousness of Jesus Christ then we will be righteous, not only to be right with God in a personal relationship, but we will be a doer of righteousness to all those around us because Jesus is our example of righteousness in every way.

We simply have no righteousness of our own!

Isa 64:6  But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

Those that think that no matter what they do they are still acceptable to God, but the truth is they live in a world of false righteousness.

The Bible never mentions righteousness without the example of living righteously!

***Self-righteousness leads to legalism!

God gives us the examples of the Pharisees and the Scribes and the Sadducees who followed the laws of Moses but inside were still filthy.

Luk 11:39  And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness.

Works will never get you saved!

Eph 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9  Not of works, lest any man should boast.

***Self-righteousness leads to being judgmental!

Jesus Christ never says in these Scriptures, "blessed are the righteous" because there are none that are righteous!

Rom 3:10  As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

Jesus says blessed are those that hunger and thirst after righteousness.

It is they who will be filled!

Gal 5:22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Gal 5:23  Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

We cannot be perfect while still in the flesh but we can be led by the Holy Spirit in the ways of righteousness!

Gal 5:24  And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
Gal 5:25  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Those who weep and mourn are the sorrowful.

These are the broken hearted, the desperate, the the helpless.

They weep over sin.

They are broken hearted over evil and suffering from evil.

It is sad that many of us had to reach rock bottom before we realized we needed a Savior.

Thank goodness for the long arms of God!

It is these same people who after their own salvation, who, when they see the suffering of others can be a great witness for the Lord.

It is those who have been through personal tragedies once they are saved can relate to those others who are suffering from personal tragedies.

Our example of these things is still Jesus Christ when we can relate our own suffering by seeing Jesus Christ suffer through the things of the cross!

We may ask any question but Jesus Christ is still the answer to every question!

The promise is that we will all laugh about all these things and all tears will be wiped away one day in Heaven where we will gather with our Lord!

Those that are hated by men are all those who are persecuted for Christ sake.

Being persecuted means being hated, being reproached, being banished, and being martyred.

Those who take a stand for Jesus Christ will be cast out of the land.

Even in America the Christians are being asked to leave!

It is already happening in those places controlled by terrorist but also other governments!

But what is God's answer?

*****Luk 6:23  Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.

Christians will suffer in this world, because we are not of this world, just pilgrims passing through!

Joh 15:18  If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
Joh 15:19  If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

Christians will suffer because we speak of sin!

Joh 15:21  But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.
Joh 15:22  If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin.

Christians will suffer because the world is in the hands of the "Deceiver"!

Joh 8:44  Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
Joh 8:45  And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.

But the rewards will be great in Heaven!

Act 5:41  And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.

1Pe 4:12  Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
1Pe 4:13  But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
1Pe 4:14  If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

Thank goodness there is a much greater reward than those 70 virgins of the Muslim faith!

But there are "woes" to many others!

*****Luk 6:24  But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation.
Luk 6:25  Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.
Luk 6:26  Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.

We started this lesson by mentioning "materialism" which is having confidence in the things of this world.

And there are many who preach a prosperity "gospel" which also do not follow the Word of God.

God gives us a strong warning of all these things.

There is a warning to the rich!

The rich are those that have put back much after meeting the needs of their family.

Luk 21:1  And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury.
Luk 21:2  And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.
Luk 21:3  And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all:
Luk 21:4  For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.

***The rich are warned because because wealth can pull a person away from the Kingdom of Heaven.

It is difficult for a rich man to enter into Heaven!

Mat 19:23  Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 19:24  And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

Riches lure and attract, riches become some imaginary power or force that reaches out to draw us away from the true power of salvation!

Most of the rich, embrace their riches and not the God who allowed them to have those riches!

The wealthy are usually honored and envied.

The wealthy seem to have power over others.

Their downfall, is that the wealthy become self-sufficient and all about themselves.

The rich loose focus on the things that money simply cannot buy, which are peace, love, joy, goodness, and faith!

The rich loose focus on events that money cannot save them from, such as death, disaster, disease, and accidents.

What does the Bible say:

Eph 4:28  Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, "working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth".

This has nothing to do with tithing!

It is still true that the rich still get richer while the poor get poorer.

In this wealthy world there are more starving, sick, naked and people living on the streets than there has ever been and governments concentrate on global warming, weapons of warfare, and outer space which are in the hands of God.

We see that riches simply make men selfish!

The more they get the more they want.

They are never satisfied with enough riches!

The rich simply loose thought to compassion and a love for people.

In most every case the rich live with the rewards of this world and miss out on the riches of the glory world!

1Ti 6:7  For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

It is "People" who are the true riches of this world we live in!

Joh 13:34  A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

***The full are warned because they are the opposite of those who hunger for righteousness.

They are so full of themselves and of the things this world has to offer that they forget about the things of God!

Rom 1:28  And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
Rom 1:29  Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
Rom 1:30  Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
Rom 1:31  Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
Rom 1:32  Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

The judgment on the full is that they will one day hunger!

Luk 16:23  And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
Luk 16:24  And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
Luk 16:25  But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.

***The merry are also warned.

Laughing means they mock sin.

They indulge in the entertaining of their flesh.

They indulge in carnal and sinful things.

Laughing means they pay no attention to the real world and live in their own little world.

Their conscience is seared.

1Ti 4:2  Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

Laughing means they deny the truth!

2 Th 2:10  And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

The Judgment on those who laugh now, is that they will mourn and weep in Hell.

***The warning is strong to those full of self-pride and those who compromise the Word of God.

These are the opposite of all those who are persecuted for Christ's sake!

The worldly, will always speak well of those that live a worldly lifestyle!

Those of the world seek the attention,or they seek a position, or honor, and the praise of others.

2Pe 2:1  But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
2Pe 2:2  And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.

After His warnings, Jesus will always gives us the answer to the problems!

*****Luk 6:27  But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,
Luk 6:28  Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.
Luk 6:29  And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also.
Luk 6:30  Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.
Luk 6:31  And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.

What is the truth of the Word of God? Many just refuse to accept it as the truth and they simply will not hear.

Every true preacher realizes that when he preaches there will always be those in hearing range that will simply close their ears to the truth.

It was the same this day of Jesus!

Jesus was preaching the changed life after salvation and most people will refuse to change the way they think and therefore refuse to repent.

Jesus preached the only form of human relationships that will work!

Jesus preached:

Mat 22:37  Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
Mat 22:38  This is the first and great commandment.
Mat 22:39  And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Mat 22:40  On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

The truth is no Jew was about to love the Romans!

And no Jew was about to love a Samaritan!

Most of the people who gathered at the feet of Jesus that day did not want to hear His message!

***As believers we are to love all mankind and this includes our enemies.

We are simply to respect and honor all men!

No matter the individual, they have a soul that is in need of the God who made them!

Of course this goes against human nature.

Human nature is to hate, strike back, and wish hurt on all our enemies.

Self-preservation is not in itself a sin!

Love does not mean we are to accept wicked behavior!

Love does not mean we are to compromise on the Word of God!

Love does not mean we are giving away a license to sin!

***As believers we are to show mercy and compassion to all humans, in fact on all God's created beings.

Our reaction to our enemies should never be based on their hate for us!

In fact the terrorist of today will use these things against us.

Jesus says to do good to them which hate you!

Doing good goes beyond words and includes doing good things for those who hate so much.

We are to seek some way to reach them with the "Gospel" of Jesus Christ!

Every human being will face some crisis in this world and it may be that even our enemies can be reached during such a personal crisis.

Rom 12:20  Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
Rom 12:21  Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

***Be a blessing to them.

Speak softly and use kind words no matter their reaction!

Rom 12:14  Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.

***Pray for them.

Today in our world we face more and more of those who despite-fully use us.

It seems the entire world hates the Christian and even attempt to shame us and hurt us personally.

They twist the Word of God into some false thing and then they persecute those who stand on the truth.

If you are a Christian, you have already seen the proof that prayer works!

We simply do not spend enough time praying for our enemies.

We certainly do not spend enough time praying for the lost!

What did Jesus do while He was nailed to the cross?

Luk 23:34  Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
Luk 23:35  And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.
Luk 23:36  And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar,
Luk 23:37  And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.

Even while Jesus was praying for them they were still mocking Him!

There is no greater example of our own prayers for our enemies than this prayer of Jesus!.

Jesus paid the price for the sins of all mankind, including His enemies!

When we pray for those that persecute us, we get all the benefits!

***Offer the other cheek.

These words were spoken to drive home the meaning of this sermon.

Let's see how Jesus handled this situation as our example.

Joh 18:22  And when he had thus spoken, one of the officers which stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, Answerest thou the high priest so?
Joh 18:23  Jesus answered him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou me?

Jesus Christ teaches us patience in bearing injuries and not to seek private revenge but if need be, to suffer more than to show our own temper.

Men and most women find these things hard to do!

The truth is, it's better to be struck again than it is to sin in the face of God!

If some one steals your cloke, it is better to given him everything than to sin in the face of God.

God never told us not to defend our homes, God told us to not seek revenge!

The Apostle Paul responded to such a thing in this manner:

Act 23:2  And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth.
Act 23:3  Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?

We see in both cases that it is God who will revenge His people!

We should do all we can to avoid sin!

We are to help everyone that has a need by realizing the greatest need they have is salvation!

We are to give but God stills says to use discretion!

Psa 112:5  A good man sheweth favour, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with discretion.

Deu 15:8  But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth.

Even in our verse, God says to give but He does not say to give everything we have!

We must remember we are not of this Earth, just pilgrims passing through. The treasures of this Earth must have very little meaning to us!

If we get too possessive of material things, then we are going against the Word of God!

We simply do not live for the things of this world!

1Ti 6:17  Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;
1Ti 6:18  That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;
1Ti 6:19  Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

The total purpose of working in a materialistic world is to meet our own needs and to have enough to help those in need!

Act 20:35  I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

There are some things in the Bible that are known as the golden rules.

One of those is: "As ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise"

*****Luk 6:32  For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.
Luk 6:33  And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.
Luk 6:34  And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.

What Jesus is saying is that a believer's behavior must surpass that of a sinner's behavior!

Sinners also love those who love them.

Sinners also do good to those that are good to them.

Sinners also lend seeking to gain or some future favor.

What Jesus is saying is if we cannot live by the Word of God, we are no better than a non-believer!

The world sees goodness as love.

The world sees doing good and lending as being neighborly.

The truth is, these things by themselves will not get you saved.

Jesus Christ denied Himself in order to win the world!

Jesus Christ died to save His enemies!

Jesus Christ did good to those that hated Him!

Jesus Christ loved His enemies!

**Jesus Christ died for the ungodly which includes me and you!

Rom 5:6  For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

**Jesus Christ died for sinners:

Rom 5:8  But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

**While we were the enemies of God, we were reconciled to Him, by the death of His Son:

Rom 5:10  For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

BUT, We are saved by His life!

Jesus Christ walked out of that grave because death could not hold Him.

2Co 4:10  Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
2Co 4:11  For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.

We must clearly understand, No amount of good works can get you into Heaven!

Eph 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9  Not of works, lest any man should boast.

It takes the denial of oneself for the sake of reaching the enemies of God!

*****Luk 6:35  But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
Luk 6:36  Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.

What is the truth? There is no reward unless we live as Jesus said!

*If we do our best to live as Jesus said, then our reward will be great!

All that we suffer and lose on this earth will be restored. In Job's case all he lost was doubled.

All that suffer in the name of Jesus Christ will gain eternal life and inherit all that our Father in Heaven has!

Joh 5:24  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

1Pe 1:3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1Pe 1:4  To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
1Pe 1:5  Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

*If we do our best to live as Jesus said, we will be adopted into the family of God and be a child of the Highest.

Gal 4:4  But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
Gal 4:5  To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
Gal 4:6  And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

*If we do our best to live as Jesus said, we will be acting like a child of God!

1Jn 2:28  And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.
1Jn 2:29  If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.

We are not doing things right until we do the things that Jesus said to do!

And we are to remember, we have only one Judge who can judge our ways and that is the Lord Jesus Christ!

*****Luk 6:37  Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:
Luk 6:38  Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

If we become judges instead of witnesses and then condemn because we are unforgiving of others, then all others and God Himself will treat us the same.

When we become Judges then we will also be judged!

If we have condemned someone then we will also be condemned!

If we refuse to forgive then we will also be unforgiven!

These things will happen here on this earth but also by our Father in Heaven.

To be a true believer is to possess a spirit of giving!

To be a true believer is to be unselfish!

To be a true believer is to have a cup that continues to run over!

Psa 23:5  Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Psa 23:6  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

The truth is we will receive what we give!

We will get out of a life for God what we put into it!

God saved us for many reasons but He would taken us on to Heaven if we did not have important things to do after our salvation!

Isa 58:6  Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?
Isa 58:7  Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?
Isa 58:8  Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward.

The greatest reward we can have is when we see Jesus we will be just like Him!

1Jn 3:2  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

Remember when we are giving for the Lord, we are not just giving but we are certainly sowing!

Questions?

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